Zimbardo's Research (Confomity To Social Roles) Flashcards
What are social roles?
The parts people play as members of various social groups eg parent, child, student, passenger etc.
These are accompany expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role.
What was the procedure?
Zimbardo set up a mock prison in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford University.
They advertised for students willing to volunteer and those whom were deemed emotionally stable.
The students were randomly assigned the roles of guards or prisoners.
‘Prisoners’ were arrested in their homes by the local police and were then delivered to the ‘prison’. They were blindfolded, strip searched, deloused and issued a uniform and number.
There were 16 rules the prisoners and to followed which were I forced by guards who worked in shifts (three at a time)
The prisoners names were never used.
To underline their role, the guards had their own uniform (cuffs, wooden clubs, keys, mirror shades)
The guard were told they had complete control over prisoners (they could even decide when prisoners could use the toilet).
What were their findings?
The guards behaviour became a threat to the prisoners’ psychological and physical health and the study was stopped after 6 days instead of 14.
Day 2: prisoners ripped their uniforms, shouted and swore at guards, who retaliated with fire extinguishers. The guards also established a ‘divide and rule’ tactic
Guards harassed prisoners constantly to remind them they were being monitored all the time eg frequent head counts (even in the middle of the night).
Guards highlighted the differences in social roles by punishing even the smallest misdemeanour.
After the rebellion was put down, the prisons became subdued, depressed and anxious.
One prisoner was released on the first since he showed symptoms of psychological disturbance. Two more were released on the fourth day.
One went on a hunger strike, the guards tried to force feed him and ended up puttn him in the hole, he was then shunned by prisoners.
The guards became more brutal and aggressive with some of them enjoying their power (identifying with their roles).
What where the conclusions?
The simulation revealed the power of the situation to influence people behaviour.
The guards, prisoners and researchers all conformed to the roles within the prison.
Every one found them selves behaving as if they were in a prison rather than in a psychological study.
Remember any evaluation?
Control, lack of realism, role of dispositions influences and ethical issues.
